Then marvelled he why they would not suffer him to enter. And then he
looked up to the window; and there he saw the fair Lionesse that said
on high: Go thy way, Sir Beaumains, for as yet thou shalt not have
wholly my love, unto the time that thou be called one of the number of
the worthy knights. And therefore go labour in worship this
twelvemonth, and then thou shalt hear new tidings. Alas, fair lady,
said Beaumains, I have not deserved that ye should show me this
strangeness, and I had weened that I should have right good cheer with
you, and unto my power I have deserved thank, and well I am sure I have
bought your love with part of the best blood within my body. Fair
courteous knight, said Dame Lionesse, be not displeased nor over-hasty;
for wit you well your great travail nor good love shall not be lost,
for I consider your great travail and labour, your bounty and your
goodness as me ought to do. And therefore go on your way, and look that
ye be of good comfort, for all shall be for your worship and for the
best, and perdy a twelvemonth will soon be done, and trust me, fair
knight, I shall be true to you, and never to betray you, but to my
death I shall love you and none other. And therewithal she turned her
from the window, and Sir Beaumains rode awayward from the castle,
making great dole, and so he rode here and there and wist not where he
rode, till it was dark night. And then it happened him to come to a
poor man’s house, and there he was harboured all that night.
But Sir Beaumains had no rest, but wallowed and writhed for the love of
the lady of the castle. And so upon the morrow he took his horse and
rode until underne, and then he came to a broad water, and thereby was
a great lodge, and there he alighted to sleep and laid his head upon
the shield, and betook his horse to the dwarf, and commanded him to
watch all night.
Now turn we to the lady of the same castle, that thought much upon
Beaumains, and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother, and
prayed him in all manner, as he loved her heartily, that he would ride
after Sir Beaumains: And ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find
him sleeping, for I am sure in his heaviness he will alight down in
some place, and lie him down to sleep; and therefore have ye your wait
upon him, and in the priviest manner ye can, take his dwarf, and go ye
your way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains awake. For my
sister Linet telleth me that he can tell of what kindred he is come,
and what is his right name. And the meanwhile I and my sister will ride
unto your castle to await when ye bring with you the dwarf. And then
when ye have brought him unto your castle, I will have him in
examination myself. Unto the time that I know what is his right name,
and of what kindred he is come, shall I never be merry at my heart.
Sister, said Sir Gringamore, all this shall be done after your intent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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